The application of the circular economy, which employs waste management, is expected to create more than 120 thousand new jobs in the recycling industry.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has said implementing waste management as part of circular economy practices could potentially create 120 thousand new jobs.

"The application of the circular economy, which employs waste management, is expected to create more than 120 thousand new jobs in the recycling industry and absorb 3.3 million supporting informal workers," Pandjaitan said at the launch of Packaging Recovery Organization (PRO) Indonesia here on Tuesday.

The government, he said, has taken unprecedented steps to handle issues involving plastic waste and pollution. A waste management program using the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) method was established in Cilacap, Central Java recently, he informed.

"We want to establish the RDF method in 10 cities which produce less than 200 tons of waste per day. Because garbage can have a negative impact on health," he elaborated.

The minister emphasized the need to build collaboration between the government, the public, and the private sector to handle the plastic waste issue in Indonesia.

The government is targeting to reduce plastic waste by 70 percent in 2025.

"The government will do its utmost to address the issue together. It cannot be handled by the government alone. The private sector must (also get) involved," he remarked.

Pandjaitan also urged local leaders to support the plastic waste management program by providing infrastructure to collect plastic waste and involve waste banks in their respective regions.

Currently, there are about 7 thousand waste banks across the country that collect, sort, and sell a significant volume of plastic waste per year.

"Waste banks need to get support as a part of the circular economy and an effort to empower the public's economy," he said.

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Translator: Ade Irma J, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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